By Joanna Colosimo
The Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) has its third director in roughly a year, raising fresh questions for federal contractors about the agency's enforcement direction. On Friday, May 1, 2026, Ashley Romanias departed her role as Director of OFCCP, less than a year after former OFCCP Director Catherine Eschbach left the role. By Monday, May 4, 2026, a new OFCCP Director, Kenneth J. Wolfe, was listed on the agency’s website.
According to his bio, Wolfe is simultaneously the Director of the Center for Faith and Opportunity Initiatives (Center for Faith) and for the OFCCP within the Department of Labor (DOL). His main role as the Director of the Center for Faith is to promote religious freedom in the workplace and create opportunities for faith organizations to participate in grant processes. Wolfe previously served at the Department of Health and Human Services for nearly 23 years, where he was spokesman for the Administration for Children and Families
The OFCCP transition comes amid broader leadership turnover at DOL. Former Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer recently stepped down, leaving the department under Acting Secretary Keith Sonderling.
With recent leadership changes, federal contractors remain attentive to OFCCP’s complaint investigations stemming from alleged violations of Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act and the Vietnam Era Veterans’ Readjustment Assistance Act and anticipate further possible agency developments.
DCI will keep monitoring Department of Labor transitions and share timely updates.
